Electric switch.



. 0.1. KLEIN.

I ELECTRIC SWITCH. 'APPLICAII ON FILED SEPT. 2 5, I91 I.

Patented Apr. 20, 1915.

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cnAnLss J. KLEIN, or MILWAUKEE, w1scoNsm,-As'smnon mu m cu'rnnn- MFG. 00., or MILWAUKEE, wIscoNsm, A com'onn'rmn or Wisconsin.

ELECTRIC sw'rrcni.

To all whom it may concern i 1 Be it known that I, CHARLES J. KLEiN, a citizen of the United States, residmg-at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Electric Switches, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this Specification.

My invention relates to electric" switches.

It has among its objects .to provide an improved electric switch which may be readily inserted or removed from a suitable casing and which is adapted to make or breax the circuit with a quick snap action.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved electric switch of a rugged and simple construction which may be manufactured-at small expense.

Other objects and advantages of myimproved construction will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one form which my invention may assume impractice. My invention is not however, limited to this one form chosen for purposes of illustration, but may assume other forms.

In the views of these drawings :-Figure 1 shows a plan view of the unit in position in a switch casing. Fig. 2 shows a sectional view ,of the same on line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 shows a sectional view on line 33 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 shows a bottom plan view of the back of the unit.

In these drawings I have illustrated a snap switch mechanism of the push button type in the form of a unit which is adapted to be inserted within a suitable casing or socket. As illustrated in these drawings this socket is preferably formed of two parts 1 and 2 of insulating material and is provided at its upper end with a suitable conductor inlet 3 and at its lower end with a suitable threaded conducting shell 4 adapted to receive an attachment plug, a lamp or other electrical device. The snap switch mechanism or unit is preferably mounted upon a suitable insulating base 5 which. is

arranged to be received in a suitable recess in one of the parts of the casing and attached to the same by a suitable screw 6.

The switch mechanism is arranged to reciprocate across the base 5 and is provided with push buttons 7 arranged to move Specification of Letters fate'nt.

Application filed September 25, 1911. Serial no. 651,224.

111g and g ng member bottom of the base 5 Patented A r. 20, 1915.

through openings 8 on the opposite sidm of the casing. As shown in Fig. 3 the operat- 1ng member preferably includes a shaft 9 having the push buttons 7 on its opposite ends. ThlS operating member is preferably supported as shown in Fig. 3 in a support- 10 ha u turned ends provided with suitable perform tions through which the push buttons may nove. In a preferred form this supportmg member 10 is suitably secured to the by a suitable screw or other means 11. Upon the shaft 9 and be tween the push buttons 7 are pivoted oscillating cam members 12 and 13 to be moved bodily backward and forward across the base 5 as the shaft 9 is moved.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 3 these cam members are provided with similar active surfaces having central crests 14 and oppositely extending sloping surfaces leading up to these crests and on opposite sides of the same suitable projections 15 are provided. I s illustrated in these figures the ends of these cam members are provided with inwardly extending interfifljng arms 16 havlng perforations through which the shaft 9 extends In order to give the desired snap action to theparts, a spiral spring 17 is preferably carried upon the shaft 9 between the perforated arms 16 of the cam members and the ends of this spring are brought out as shown in Fig. 1 so that they rest on the opposite ends of the cam members and on the upper surfaces of the same. Thus it is seen that this spring acts to normally hold the cam members down in a substantially parallel plane. Upon the base 5 is mounted a movable contact member 18. This contact member is preferably of a. substantially rectangular shape and is provided with bearing surfaces 19 near its opposite ends and beneath the active surfaces of the cams 12 and 13. In a preferred form I provide to receive this red, is formed in said member 18 between the balls 19. When the cams 12 and 13, which move with the push buttons 7, are reeiprocated across the base 5 upon the movement of these push buttons, the active surfaces of these cams are brought over the balls 19 and the cams are forced backward and oscillated about their pivot on the shaft 9 to compress the spring 17. 10 When the crest of the cams passes over the balls 19 the pressure upon the spring is relieved and the cam members are thrown down by the same causing the movable contact member 18 to move across the base 5 in an. opposite direction to the direction of movement of the cams. Since the crest of the cam has been passed and the balls are free to travel on the opposite slope of the cam, this movement isvery rapid. Cono versely when it is desired to operate the switch mechanismin the opposite direction the direction of movement of the cam members is reversed as well as the direction of movement of the movable contact member.

It is obvious that this switch mechanism may be adapted to make or break, one or more circuits depending upon the circuit connections which are provided upon the base. In the construction shown however, I

have illustrated the same as adapted tobreak only one circuit and have illustrated suitable stationary contacts 22 mounted upon one side of the base. As illustrated in Fig. 1 these stationary contacts'-ma be provided with protruding contact sur aces 23 which are less thick than the body of the contact and lie flat upon the upperv surface of the base. By this arrangement the bodies of the contacts 22 serve as-stops for the movable contact member. It is to be noted that as the movable contact moves across the base, the balls on the same engage the projections 15 on the cam members substantially simultaneously with the engagement of the ends of the contact members with the body portions of the stationary contacts 22 so that any strain upon the parts is avoided. In order to provide suitable stops at the opposite end of the travel of, the contact member suitable pins 24 may be set opposite each other on the opposite side of the base from the contact members 22. These pins are also preferably so located that they are engaged substantially simultaneously with the engagement of theballs 19 with the projecv tions'15 on that end of the cams.

' that the extension 29 may serve as a center where it is only used to break one circuit,

by means of suitable screws, rivets or other means 25 which extends through'to the opposite slde of the base. The upper contact 22 illustrated in Fig. 1 is preferably provided with a laterally extending member 26 substantially in the shape of an-elbow which is provided with a perforation 27 in its upper end and is arranged to be attached by a suitable screw'6 to the part 1 of the casing and carry a binding screw 28 onrits upper end. The lower contact 22 is provided with a laterally extending member '29 of a substantially L shape having a rounded contact surface 30 at its end similar to the center contact of a lamp. When the base 5 is placed 3 in position in the casing 1 all that it is necessary to do is 'to attach the upper extension 26 to' the casing 1 by means .of the screw 6.

When in this position the extension 29 extends through a suitable opening, commumg5 eating with the recess within whichthe base .5 is housed, into the upper end of v the threaded conducting shell 4. Thus it is seen contact for any device inserted in the socket. In order to provide the other circuit con-' nection for the threaded conducting shell 4 a suitable metallic'strip 31 may be provided. This strip 31 preferably has its upper end attached to the casing 1 by means of a suitable screw or other means 32 and carries a binding screw 33 on its upper end.', In a preferred construction this strip extends .down along the side of the casing 1 and the base 5 to a point adjacent the upper end of the threaded shell 4 where it is-preferably provided with an extension 34 which may be suitably attached to the shell as by means of a rivetor screw 35.

When it is desired to insert the switch 1.0;

mechanism in my improved construction all that it is necessary to do is to attach the. extension 26 of the upper stationary contact 22 to the casing 1 by adjusting the screw 6. When this extension is thus attached the base 5 lies substantially flat in its opening within the part 10f the casing, while the push buttons 7 extend in opposite directions through the openings in the sides of the same and the extension of the lower stationary contact extends downwardly into the threadt ed conducting shell 4 so that'it may serve as the center contact for any device which is inserted within the shell. When suitable electrical connections are madethrough the bindingposts 28 and 33 the circuit of the device will extend from the line, through the bindingpost 28, through the extension 26, the-upper stationary contact 22, the movable contact. 18, the lower stationary contact 22, the lower extension 29, the device inserted in the shell 4, back through the shell 4, the conducting strip 31 and the binding pos 33 to the opposite side of the line.

--It is of course obvious that the two parts mac-nae it is desirable to inclose the unit 1n as snug a chamber as possible. As illustrated in Fig. 2 I preferably provide a suitable chamber 39 in the part 2 of the casing which is provided with extensions vor walls 40 adapted to seal the unit between the parts of the casing when the same are held together by the screw 36. As in the usual construction the conductor inlet may be provided with a suitable insulating washer 41. Thus it is seen that I have provided a complete unit which may be readily inserted in the casing or removed as desired in which there is no necessity for the provision of additional contacts, the unit in itself being complete and arranged to provide a center contact for any device which is inserted within the receptacle. Further by my improved construction I have provided a switch mechanism which is exceedingly simple and which may be readily manufactured at small expense. This switxzh mechanism is adapted to break the circuit with a quick snap action and is so' constructed that the contact parts of the same are subject to little sparking and are adapted to withstand long use in service. Further by my improved construction and arrangement of the parts, I have provided a very compact unit. Further by the improved arrangement of the unit, I have been able to provide an improved receptacle which may be adapted to a wide range of uses and conveniently assembled or taken apart whenever it is desired. I

While I have in this application described one specific form which my invention may assume in practice, I do not wish to be limited to this specific form, but wish rather to include within the scope of this application all of those forms of my invention falling within its spirit.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In an electric switch, an insulating base, a snap switch mechanism carried thereon and havingits operating member reciprocable across the same, stationary contacts for said switch mechanism on the same side of said base and terminal members carried upon the opposite side of said base, one of said terminal members being adapted to be attached to a support and the other of said terimnal members being adapted to make contacts thereon, movable snap switc said operating member.

reciprocable operating member,

- tions upon successive reciprocations of said contact with. a contact of a translating device.

2. In an electric switch, a substantially disk-shaped insulating base havin switch hmeclmmsm mounted upon said base and movableto make or break circuit at said contacts with a; quick snap action, and laterally extending terminal members carried upon the opposite face of said base and extending in opposite directions therefrom, one of said members bemg adapted to act as a means for'attachmg the base to a support and the other being adapted to make contact with a contact of a translating device.

3. In an electric switch, in combination, a reciprocable operating member, parallel cams pivoted upon the same and biased in one direction, and a contact member reciprocable in a. plane substantially parallel to said operating member-and arranged to be actuated by said cams in an opposite direction to the latter and with a quick snap action in either direction.

4.- In an electric switch, in combination, a. reciprocable operating member, resiliently mounted winged cams carried thereby on opposite sides and biased to press in the same direction, and a reciprocable contact at one side of said operating member and said cams and having bearing surfaces engaged by the latter, said contact being actuated with a snap movement in alternately opposite directions upon successive movements of In an electric switch, in combination, a.

' pivoted cams carried on opposite sides of the latter, a coil spring carried by said operating member and biasing said cams in one direction, and a reciprocable contact having hearing surfaces operatively engaged by said cams whereby the same is moved with asnap action in alternately opposite direcoperating member.

6. In an electric switch, in combination, a substantiaHy .U-shaped frame, an insulating base carried in the bottom thereof, a reciprocable operating member supported and guided by said frame above saidrbase, a contact member slidably mounted upon said base and reciprocable across the same, and a resilient operative connection between said members whereby said contact is moved with a quick snap action in alternately opposite directions upon successive reciprocations of said operating member.

7. A unitary and removable snap switch mechanism, comprising, in combination, a frame, a substantially flat base carried thereby, contacts carried on one face of-said base, a reciprocable contact member slidably mounted on said base, a--reciprocable operating member supported and guided by said 139 frame above, said contact, and a resilient op-.

erative connection between said members comprismg cams on one and bearing surfaces on the other whereby sa1d contact is ..moved' with a quicksnap action in a direc-' tion opposite to said operating member upon reciprocation of the latter. a

8. In an electric switch, a substantially U- shaped member having openings in its ends, I an insulatin base positioned in said U- fshaped mcm er, a snap switch mechanism carried upon the upper surface of said base,

'said switch mechanism including an operating member extending through the openings in the ends of said U-shaped member, and a movable contact member arranged to move in an opposite direction to said operrounded projection on said contact member and a yieldable convex cam on said operating member in constant engagement with said projection, said cam riding over said projection during each reciprocation of said operating member to first hold said contact member in its then extreme position and to thereafter impel the same to its opposite extreme position with a snap movement.

10. In an electric switch, in combination, a reciprocating operating member having push buttons at its opposite extremities, a relatively movable contact member, an operative connection between said members i comprising an unyielding ro ection on said 1 contact member and a yie ding convex cam ing member to first holdflsaid contact member nesses. on said operating member in constant engagement, said cam ridingover said projectipn; during each reciprocation of said operatin its then extreme position and to thereafter impel said contact member to its opposite extreme position with a snap movement, and means to limit the reciprocation of said operating member at substantially the moment said cam acts to impel said contact member.

11. In an electric switch, in combination, a reciprocating operating member, a relatively movable contact member, a stationary supporting member for said contact member, and resilient means carried by said operating member and acting on said contact member to hold the latter in operative position. with respect to said supporting member.

12. In an electric switch, in combination, a reci rocating operating member having push utton extremities, a relatively movable contact member, a supporting member for said contact member, and resilient means carried by said operating member and acting on said contact member to hold the latter in operative position with respect to said supporting member and to actuate the same with a snap movement.

13. In an electric switch, in combination, a reciprocating operating member having push button extremities, a relatively movable contact member, stationary contacts for said movable contact member, and resilient means carried by said operating member and acting on said contact member to press the same into engagement with said stationary contacts when in circuit-closing position and to actuate the same with a snap movement to circuit-closing and circuitope'ning positions.

- In witness whereof, I have hereunto sub scribed my name in the presence of'two wit- CHARLES J. KLEIN. Witnesses:

Gno. HAYNES,

T. L. Booxwnnn- 

